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Sunday, I was on my way to San Francisco, with my son Michael, and my two grandsons. San Jose is about halfway, and the Union Street exit was a good spot for a break. We figured that we would drop by the San Jose Fly Shop, browse a bit, buy a few things, and then hit the coffee shop next door.
I had meant to check their hours before we left Monterey, but in the rush to get the 4 year old and the 8 year old into the car, I failed to do so. I figured, if they are open, we'll shop, if not we'll grab a snack and coffee.
We arrived, and parked, glad to note that the Fly Shop OPEN sign was lighted, and the door was not locked. We walked across the parking lot, opened the door and entered. The clerk behind the counter announced in a clear tone: “Sorry, we are closing. Did you have something you just needed to grab and buy?”
"No," I said, "we were just going to browse a bit, and maybe buy something.”
"We're closed." was the reply. It was 3:02 PM, and sure enough, the posted open hours for Sunday are something to 3 PM. Maybe there was an important football game on?
Now, here we have a retail establishment with four potential customers walking in. An old guy [maybe a Granddad,] an apparent Dad, and two young boys who are obviously at a decent age to be learning about fishing (who had already been promised that we'd get them something, if we could find something they needed. )
The last time I walked out of a fly shop without buying SOMETHING was last century. The last time I couldn’t find something my grandsons NEEDED was before they were born. We probably would not have bought much, and maybe would not have bought enough to pay to keep the store open for an extra fifteen minutes. But, the next time I drove by on Route 85, I'd have been sure to drop by, and shop again.
Like most of you reading this, I get catalogs from ten to twenty fly fishing outfits, from Cabelas through Dan Bailey and Bob Marriotts, and on to Rogue River Outfitters. I buy some things on line or through mail order, but I have a strong preference for shopping in my local fly shops. On the other hand, once your "local fly shop" gets bought by a major retailer, as you say ‘Farewell’ to the old owner; you can just say BuhBye to the old iron stove, the coffee pot and tin cups, and the ethic that recognizes the value of keeping the customer happy.
So, if you are lucky enough to still have a "local fly shop" that has not gone all corporate on you, for heavens sake support it. Buy your hooks and flies and bobbers and routine tying material there - most of your savings from online will be eaten by shipping anyway, and you can usually get what you want from your local the same day, if it's in stock, and if not, they'll likely be happy to order it for you.
I’m certainly not saying that I’ll never shop at that Fly Shop again. I don’t let clerks make that decision for me, but I won’t go out of my way to shop there. My urge to support their staying in business took a crippling hit yesterday.
Angler’s Choice in Santa Cruz is on the way home too, if I go down 17 instead of 101. Time for a change, I guess.
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